Unlikely I know, but he would probably chip in with 10 or more goals from there imo.

Unlikely I know, but he would probably chip in with 10 or more goals from there imo.

His finishing is a lot better than his crossing that's for sure.

Bran Flake I Have An Itch

Do you think if Brana was doing these things and Jose wasnt happy then he would be playing? With Dave and Luis ready I think that if Brana was doing things wrong and against what Jose is wanting then he wouldnt be in the starting 11.

 

Spot on. He's clearly being told to push on and it's paying off so far. He was the one who supplied the cross in the Schalke game for Fabregas to put it over when he really should have scored his second.

 

He provides so much of the width going forward for us - only Hazard and Fabregas provide more Key Passes per game than him, plus he's got two goals (should've had a third against Leicester). His engine is fantastic, and he gets up and down that right flank brilliantly and he's a fantastic target for Courtois's goal kicks.

 

For me he's only behind Costa as our best player of the season so far.

Edited September 19, 201411 yr by Blue Daze

I'm pretty sure Jose will clip his wings when its required. He is clearly playing to the instructions of the coach in providing good service from the right coupled with an added overload in the box as we look to turnover possession high up the pitch. For a few years now we've been used to a more conservative approach by the team, pressing high up field brings rewards but does leave us vulnerable at times. Players we expect to be more holding in possession are now frequently seen on the edge of the opposition box, Jose clearly thinks we are ready for this transformation in our play, as long he is happy I am too.

You only have to watch the Shalke game in the 68th min and I think the 83rd and then u realize why he shouldn't be playing RWB. 

Saw it suggested in a line up for City that he could be tried alongside Matic. Not sure it would work but could be worth a go?

 

Courtios

 

Azpi-----Cahill-----JT----Luis

 

----------Brana-----Matic

 

Willian--------Cesc-----Hazard

 

------------Costa.

 

Could Brana be the box to box midfielder we have been looking for? He certainly has an eye for goal....

I think we should avoid encouraging Ivanovic to start thinking of himself of an attacking player any more than he already does, we're gonna end up with a less talented Luiz on our hands.

Once again he was at fault for the goal. He's been such a liability defensively this season, which is ridiculous, considering the fact that he's a defender.

can we start to bench him and put dave on right back?

I am really enough seeing him out of position and concede goals because of that

just bring him on if we need to chase some goals Jose please

Branna is NOT a full back, never has been and never will be. Yes, he brings with him an energy and commitment to the cause that can seldom be criticised but defensively he is a liability in that right back position. We have two perfectly good full backs, one for each side. It's a tricky one thats for sure, Jose is paid to sort this stuff out and in Jose I trust.

Spot on. He's clearly being told to push on and it's paying off so far. He was the one who supplied the cross in the Schalke game for Fabregas to put it over when he really should have scored his second.

He provides so much of the width going forward for us - only Hazard and Fabregas provide more Key Passes per game than him, plus he's got two goals (should've had a third against Leicester). His engine is fantastic, and he gets up and down that right flank brilliantly and he's a fantastic target for Courtois's goal kicks.

For me he's only behind Costa as our best player of the season so far.

No one can deny his attacking contributions, the problem is that he is simply incapable of balancing attack with defense. He either incredibly attack-minded or incredibly defense-minded. He simply doesn't have the pace to get back in time when an opponent counter-attacks.

Obviously this is not a problem against most teams in the league. The fact that he's gone from our second biggest attacking liability to one of our biggest attacking threats in the space of a pre-season deserves a mountain of credit. But we also need to remember Azpi is no attacking slouch either and with Luis on the left, we potentially get the best of both worlds.

Branna is NOT a full back, never has been and never will be. Yes, he brings with him an energy and commitment to the cause that can seldom be criticised but defensively he is a liability in that right back position. We have two perfectly good full backs, one for each side. It's a tricky one thats for sure, Jose is paid to sort this stuff out and in Jose I trust.

 

I've never understood this type of thinking. He doesn't look like a full-back in some regards, but he's absolutely one of the best full-backs in Europe. Gary Neville made a similar comment yesterday and he knows a bit about right-backs....and I remember some people making similar comments about him in his early years.

 

You only have to watch the Shalke game in the 68th min and I think the 83rd and then u realize why he shouldn't be playing RWB. 

 

Or you could watch the Everton game, the Burnley game, the Leicester game and the second Fabregas chance in the Schalke game to realise why he should.

 

He's one of the hardest-working players in the squad, he's integral to us winning first-phase ball from goal-kicks and he's a massive presence on the pitch.

He completely lost Lampard for the equaliser yesterday, didn't follow his run.

Not understanding why he is tucking inside, acting almost as a third centre back, when defending. It's happened a lot so far this season already, don't get it.

He completely lost Lampard for the equaliser yesterday, didn't follow his run.

Not understanding why he is tucking inside, acting almost as a third centre back, when defending. It's happened a lot so far this season already, don't get it.

 

Hes always done this. I think its instict more then anything else really. With some players you just have to take the good with the bad. Branas weaknesses has been the same as long as he has been here and so has his positives, its up to the manager to determine if the good outweighs the bad as it is with any player. As of right now, we are a better team defensively with Dave and Luis in the side imo.

Hes always done this. I think its instict more then anything else really. With some players you just have to take the good with the bad. Branas weaknesses has been the same as long as he has been here and so has his positives, its up to the manager to determine if the good outweighs the bad as it is with any player. As of right now, we are a better team defensively with Dave and Luis in the side imo.

Completely agree but as we all know Jose finds it harder to drop certain players from his teams, regardless of mistakes or form.

Ivanovic hasn't done a lot wrong this season but we are leaking too many goals for my liking and so I don't think changing something in the back four is unreasonable.

We spent a lot of money on Luis so there surely has to be an intention to play him, it's not like he is one for the future is he.

Personally I would switch Dave to right back and put Luis in for a few games to see if it helps to shore up the defense.

Bring back Cech

Ivanovic has helped Chelsea quite a bit going forward, he sometimes lacks the defensive positioning. However, I feel that because of his determination, there has to always be a place for him and the only way I see Luis getting a chance at the moment is if there is an injury to any of the back 4. If JT or Cahill get injured then Ivanovic should play cover at CB, whilst Azpi moves back into his favoured RB position and Luis down the Left. The only thing is that he might want to give Zouma a chance.

Absolute beast of a performance and three clean sheets on the bounce now. Consistently amongst our top tacklers and provides so much width going forwards. Up there with Costa as our player of the season so far.

It's been noticed by many on here and myself that he wins pretty much all of his aerial challenges. Fantastic to see. Very Drogba-esque!

Bane is playing really solid at the rightback position since the start of the season. He is very effective while going forward. defensively solid and winning headers. The only weakness i see is that he struggles against pacy winger for eg like nani in the midweek.

Funny reading massive amounts of negative things about the best right back in the league and one of the best players of current top dogs of the league...

I was glad he managed to find a better balance between defence and attack against Arsenal, he was a lot more solid than he has been.

Love the guy, pure class would like to see him take over from Terry as captain eventually and playing through the centre when his pace detiorates a little.

He had Sanchez in his pocket yesterday.